"Kimi!" The cry sounded distant, and I felt something shaking my shoulders.
"Kimi! Wake up!" I heard again.
My eyes fluttered open and I was staring into the frightened ice-blue eyes of Piper, and Heidi was looking over her shoulder. I bolted upright.
"What happened?" I glance over at the clock, reading 4:30 A.M.
"I think you had a nightmare." Piper said softly backing up.
"We heard you screaming in your sleep, we thought something was wrong," Heidi put a reassuring hand on my forearm.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I could only shake my head.
"I don't think I want to relive it again. Maybe when I calm down."
I push myself off of the bed, and passed by my concerned friends. The area around my eyes felt tight from crying. It was just too much to believe. I walk into the bathroom and flick the light on. I squint to let the light slowly ease into my eyes, and grimace once I look at myself. My hair was sticking out every which way, my eyes were puffy, my nose had dried slime on it, and the bags under my eyes made it look like I was punched in the face. That reminded me of the fall I took in the kitchen, and my eyes wandered up to my forehead. There was a dark blue bruise with a purple ring around it.
"Great.." I groaned. I turn the hot water faucet, and plug the drain. Just the memory of the horrid dream made my vision cloudy with tears again. I take a deep, shaky breath, and insert my hands in the water. The warmness took over, and it made me relax. I scoop some out of the sink, and submerge my face. My hands just sat there, covering my face. I let the water renew everything. Wash away the sadness, erase the tightness out of my skin, and eat away the crustiness of the goo from my nose.
I look up at my reflection again, grab my teal hand towel on the rack and press it against my face. After a moment or two of leaving it there, I put the towel back in the center between Piper's green one, and Heidi's pink one.
I look at myself once more. Still not in the best shape, but I didn't look like a grime monster anymore. I let out a heavy sigh, switch the light back off, and walk out into the lounge.
"Why don't you go back to bed?" Heidi asked. I turn around facing her. Her baby blues were sleepy, her hair nappy, and she squeezed herself in her magenta night robe.
"I just can't," I said. "I'm afraid that if I go back to sleep, the nightmare will just repeat itself. "
She shuffled over to me, and wrapped her arms around my torso.
"I know this is hard for you. But remember, I'm always going to be by your side okay? Piper too. "
I squeezed back.
"Thank you. You guys have always been too good to me. Ever since my freshmen year." My eyes started to water. My breath unsteady again.
"Shhh, it's okay. Everything will get better soon enough." She cooed.
"Thank you, so much." I sob, hugging Heidi harder.
There was another sound of feet on the floor causing Heidi and I to separate. When we look over, we see Piper.
"Can I join you guys?" she asked. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Of course." I laugh, opening my other arm out to welcome her into our little comfort group.
She smiled slightly, and she scurried over under my arm. We all embraced each other, crying over the loss of our friend, and letting all of our emotion hang out. It was a great sanctuary, our friendship. I have definitely built off of them over the years. When I first started my freshmen year, I was like a lost dog. Tail hanging between my legs. I didn't have any friends, and no sense of belonging. Then I knocked into Piper in the hallway. I excessively apologized, and freaked out, while she just stood there and laughed. She told me it was okay, and she told me to go with her to her dorm. That was when I met Heidi and Caleb sitting together talking. They both looked up at me and smiled, as if I've already known them for years. I felt a click then. As if these guys were the ones I knew were going to be true. The years then passed, and we decided that we were going to commute to school from an apartment. Figuring it would be cheaper because we all had jobs, and the three of us would split rent. I just hope that I wouldn't lose these guys too, and then I have no idea what might happen. However, Jason's words from my dream continued to ring in my ears.
"It's okay, Kimi. You'll find out soon enough, all of you will."
-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-
The three of us sit on the couch, huddled together. Like we were trying to protect what we had left. The queue screen was dim lit on the T.V., after we decided to quit watching Grey's. None of us were really in the mood to pay attention anyway. After are group huddle, we decided that none of us could really go back to sleep, so we thought watching some medical drama would help, but it was now 7:30, and none of us had slept a wink.
"Dude, I'm starving." Piper was the first to break the silence in a few hours.
"Then eat something." I yawned.
"But..the kitchen," she dramatically flailed her arm in that direction, "it's too far away."
"Come on," Heidi laughed, "I'll go with you."
The two stood up, stretching nd bending. Trying to loosen up everything after not moving for such a long time. They both turned their heads at me.
"Anything for you, Kimi?" Heidi asked.
"No thanks. I can't eat this early." I shook my head.
"Okay." And they both headed into the area.
I spent my time alone stretching out to fill the rest of the couch, and flicking though Netflix, seeing if there was anything that looked good. Soon a small knock came from the door.
"I'll get it!" I shout. It smelled like they were cooking something, so I didn't want them to get distracted and burn the building down.
"Okay!" I didn't know which one shouted, but I shook my head as I walked across the chilly wooden floor.
I approach the door and stand on my tiptoes to see through the peephole. Whoever designed it should have considered that not all people are gigantic. I see a man, around 5'9", wearing teal pants, a cream colored blazer and a white scarf. I breathed a sigh of relief and turned the knob.
"Caleb!" I greeted him. He wore a sad smile.
"Hey girl, are you okay? I heard what happened, and I saw the..uh..scene down the hallway."
"I guess I'm as okay as I can be at this moment." I shrug.
"Aw, come here."
He pulled me into a tight hug in the doorway, and it remained like that for a few minutes.
"Please come in." I step to the side, giving him room to walk into the apartment.
"So where are the other two?" he asked looking around.
"Making breakfast, or whatever. Anyway, what are you doing over so early?"
"I couldn't sleep. I also figured that maybe you couldn't either. Jason was a good guy. And I really saw what you two were becoming."
"Yeah." I quietly say, as I look down at my feet.
Caleb draped his arm around me, and pulled me close to kiss the time of my head.
"It's okay. I'll be here for you."
"I know," I say looking up at his dark hazel eyes, "You guys are too good to me."
I guided him over to the couch, moving the mess of blankets over the back.
"If you can find a non-messy spot, you can sit." I laugh, handing him the remote. "And if you can find something to watch, that will be even better. We have been staring at the queue screen since 5."
"Oh my, darling." He said, not looking from the scrolling screen.
"I'll be back in a minute."
I walk out into the kitchen to see a pot of Ramen boiling on the stove.
"Piper, are you seriously making Ramen at 7:30?" I ask, brushing my long hair out of my face.
"Um, yeah. Since when do I care about what I eat at anytime of day?"
"I'm eating peanut butter and crackers, if that makes anything better." Heidi added, snicker at me as I rolled my eyes.
"You guys are super weird. Anywho, Caleb is here."
"Awesome. Tell him we'll be out in a minute." Piper said while putting a block of noodles into the boiling water.
"What am I, your bitch?" I ask while walking over to the fridge to grab a bottle of pink lemonade, and a bottle of water.
"You got it." She laughed at me.
"Jerk."
I walk back out to the lounge where I see Caleb watching Shrek the Musical. I look at him and laugh.
"Shrek the Musical, Caleb? Seriously."
"Oh shush, we need something to lighten the mood."
I smile and shake my head as I sit down beside him, handing him the bottle of water. I loved Caleb; he was super sweet, and super gay. He would always gush about random things with all of us, and run us around town because none of us drove. Piper always referred to him as her bitch, because whenever we hung out with him, she would make him do literally everything. I remember when we went to the mall she had him give her piggyback rides, and carry her. Another moment that was hilarious was when someone complimented them on being an adorable couple. Piper's face had flushed fifty shades of red, as she stammered, trying to explain to them that they were indeed not dating.
The odd thing about Caleb, was even though he was gay, he was very touchy and feely. He would grab boobs and butts, and was never fazed by it. Other people would always be made uncomfortable. Especially Jason, he always thought that Cable was trying to hit on him. Piper, Heidi, and I would always stand on the side and laugh. I sighed, wishing things would be simple again.
I leaned into Caleb's shoulder, my heart aching. He noticed that I was down again, because he took his arm and squeezes. Reassuring me that everything would be okay soon enough. Heidi and Piper popped in, with their food in hand. The musical passed, but I felt like the four of us weren't paying attention.
Again, it felt nice though. The bond between us has felt stronger than it had in a long time. The clock showed evidence that time was moving, but us four together it felt like none has passed.
-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-
It was around 1:30 now, Caleb was still hanging out and I took a shower. I walked out into the lounge, and they have brought out Cards Against Humanity. From what I saw when I walked in, the game was pretty intense. I plop down between Heidi and Caleb, grab seven of the white cards, and wait for the current round to be over.
"So In the new Disney Channel Original Movie, Hannah Montana struggles with, sharing needles, and dick fingers for the first time." Piper snorted out.
"Dick fingers!" she shouted out.
Heidi laughed as she reached out to grab the black card.
"Dick fingers always wins." She gloated to Caleb.
"But sharing needles?" he said "I mean, come on, Piper! That was a good one."
"Sorry Caleb." She shrugged.
The two bickered for about two minutes while Heidi and I were waiting for the next round to start. However, four sharp loud knocks came at the door.
"Noses!" Heidi shouted. And just like the last time, I was stuck with the confused look.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" I ask standing up.
"Sorry, Kimi!" I heard Caleb say.
"Yeah, shut up."
I head across the floor again, standing up on my tiptoes to get a gander through the peephole. I saw two men in dark suits and striped ties, and they appeared to be bickering. I take a deep breath and turn the knob.
"Can I help you?" I asked looking up.
"Uh, yes. Ma'am I'm Agent Angus, and this is Agent Young." The shorter of the two said. "We're here to ask some follow-up questions on the investigation for the murder of Jason Thompson."
Fuck.